Rare Skipper (Problema bulenta)

Living up to its name, Rare Skipper is very rarely encountered in North Carolina, found only in brackish or freshwater marshes along the Cape Fear River near Wilmington, in the southeastern corner of the state.

Very fresh male, New Hanover Co., NC 8/12/07.

	Rare Skipper may be more common than reported, since the habitat is relatively inaccessible and the skippers rarely stray from the marshes. It usually requires wading through Cottonmouth- and Alligator-infested wetlands to get a good look at a Rare Skipper. The next four shots show the same individual as in this photo. Male, New Hanover Co., NC 8/12/07.
	Separation from the very similar Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan) can be a problem. Rare Skipper can be identified by its "taller" forewings and pale bands on the abdomen (not always apparent). Rare Skippers are also less brilliantly orange and tend to show wear more quickly. I'm not sure if this is a consistent difference, but I've noticed that the forewing and hindwing fringe is much wider on a fresh Delaware than a fresh Rare. Telling Rare from the closely related Byssus Skipper (Problema byssus), which has distinctive pale chevrons, is less problematic. Male, New Hanover Co., NC 8/12/07.
	Resting on Derb Carter's back! Male, New Hanover Co., NC 8/12/07.
	Male, New Hanover Co., NC 8/12/07.
	Males often show a black spot on the underside of the forewing peeking out above the hindwing. As you can see from the photos above, this isn't always visible. Delaware also has a dark spot here, but it is usually hidden. Male, New Hanover Co., NC 8/12/07.
	Females are larger, have slightly less pointed forewings, and don't show a dark spot on the underside of the forewing. New Hanover Co., NC 8/12/07.
	This unfortunate Rare Skipper is providing lunch for a fortunate Carolina Mantis (Stagmomantis carolina). You can see the full pattern on the underside of the forewing in this photo. Male, New Hanover Co., NC 8/12/07.
	Nectaring deep inside a morning-glory flower, just above the mantid. Note the pale rings on the abdomen. New Hanover Co., NC 8/12/07.
	Northern Wild-rice (Zizania aquatica) is suspected of being a host plant in North Carolina. New Hanover Co., NC 8/12/07.
	Giant Cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroides) is reported to be the host plant at the northern edge of Rare Skipper's range in New Jersey, and may also be used in North Carolina. New Hanover Co., NC 8/12/07.
	Derb Carter photographing a Rare Skipper at the edge of the marsh (moments before it landed on his back), as John Dole looks on.